Redesigning streets could free up land for homes, says thinktank

New housing could be built on repurposed roads which better reflect modern driving, says thinktank Create Streets.

As reported in the Guardian ‘Tame’ wide British roads and replace them with boulevards of homes, says thinktank | Cities | The Guardian, changes to slower speeds mean roads and junctions may be too wide for present day needs.

This could release valuable land for housebuilding, helping replan neighbourhoods and reducing pressures on green belt land.

While planning policy requires use of suitable brownfield sites before green belt, in many areas, space is limited. Redesigning roadways to ‘tame streets and tighten sweeping T-junctions’ could free up suitable sites exactly where they are most needed.

Early design projects to test the approach are underway in Rochdale, Bedford and Southend-on-Sea.

With a housing crisis that is increasing pressure to develop homes in the countryside, Create Streets says: “Forget green belt. This is Britain’s road belt and it’s time to build on it.”

CPRE London works to protect London’s green spaces, including the green belt. Find out more Green Belt: Compact City – CPRE London